ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – An exciting pitchers' duel turned into a small ball showdown in the final innings of Sonoma State's opening game with Cal State Dominguez Hills. With five runs scoring in the final inning and a half, the Seawolves walked off 3-2 victors, thanks to a pinch-hit RBI single by
Anthony Clyma.
Working the lower part of the zone throughout the game, Seawolf starter
Dominic Garihan induced ground ball after ground ball in his eight-inning, two-hit performance, working out of dicey jams while facing just five over the minimum.
Garihan's truest test of the day came in the top of the seventh inning. After loading the bases on a walk and a pair of hits, the Sonoma State starter was able to get Jeremy Cioleck swinging to keep the game scoreless.
The Seawolves finally broke through in the eighth thanks to a pair of wild pitches. With runners at second and third and one out, Ian Codina blew a wild pitch past his battery-mate allowing
Jake Sahagian to come in and score and moving Josh Lenney to third.
Zach Guardino finished his at bat with a walk, before turning to steal second during
Matthew Richards' at bat. However, during the stolen base attempt Codina lost control of the ball again, letting Lenny come in to score from third.
The Seawolves looked to wrap things up in the bottom of the ninth, however the Toros fought their way back into the game.
Grant St. Martin, who took over on the mound, was immediately greeted by a monster home run off the bat of Dalton Duarte. A throwing error and a single to left, following the home run, immediately put the Seawolves' lead in jeopardy. A strikeout marked the first out of the inning before St. Martin intentionally walked Daryl Donerson to force an out at any base, however the Seawolf pitcher struggled to find the strike zone with the next batter and the Toros walked in the game's tying run.
Nicolas Vega then took over on the mound, inducing a 6-3 double play and preventing the Toros from taking their first lead of the game.
Heading to the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at two, the Seawolves sought one thing: a walk-off.
Nathan Mann led off the inning singling to left and advancing to third on a hit by
Rayson Romero. Nagata was then put aboard with an intentional walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Dominguez Hills induced a fly out to shallow center for the first out, but pinch-hitter
Anthony Clyma looped a single to left field driving in the winning run.
With the victory, the Seawolves improve to 12-11 and 8-9 in CCAA play. They return to Seawolf Diamond tomorrow at 11:00 am to play games two and three of their four game set against the Toros.